SAE International to Celebrate 80 Years of World Congress in Detroit

WARRENDALE, Pa., Nov. 7, 2013 - SAE International will celebrate the 80th anniversary of its World Congress in Detroit when it launches the SAE 2014 World Congress & Exhibition in April, 2014.

“SAE International’s annual automotive technical meeting is more than 100 years old, but it’s been anchored by the great city of Detroit since 1934,” said Patti Kreh, Manager, Engineering Events, SAE International. “We’re proud of the partnership we’ve built over the years.”

The World Congress will be held April 8-10 at Cobo Center. Hyundai is the sponsor of the 2014 World Congress and Delphi is the Tier One Strategic Partner. The theme is Creating New Possibilities.

Gretchen Stokes, Senior Project Manager with SAE International, added, “We’ve had a great partnership with the city for eight decades, and I don’t know of another organization that can cite such an enduring partnership. I hope this is simply the first 80 years that we’ll be hosting the World Congress in Detroit.”

The SAE 2014 World Congress assembles the best talent in the automotive industry; experts, management teams, engineers, and executives alike gather to collaborate and address these current challenges, celebrate evolution and achievement over the last 100+ years, and promote the multitude of opportunities fundamental for a successful future.

The event will be held at Detroit's Cobo Center, which is undergoing extensive renovations. The facility is investing $300 million to expand exhibit space, add energy-efficient lighting; new parking options and upgrade loading docks. “The new Grand Ballroom will be a showpiece for the Congress, with its 40+ foot high ceilings and glass-enclosed, pre-function space with the dramatic views of the Detroit River” adds Kreh. . Watch for a new food court and a three-story atrium overlooking the Detroit River. The main entrance will include a face lift with a glass exterior and meeting rooms are being redesigned.

SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting over 138,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our charitable arm, the SAE Foundation, including programs like A World in Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™.